A Few Spots We Loved in Paris & What I Cooked Last Week

Family Trip to Paris, Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Crispy Sage, Shrimp and Chive Wontons

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re having a great week! Doug and I just got back from a trip to Paris with my family: my mom and dad, my two brothers, and my oldest brother’s new girlfriend (who we loved and were so happy to get to know better!). We used to take family trips when I was growing up, but this was our first one as adults, and it was such a fun time.

With the fam in Paris! (Doug was at a work meeting when we took this)

We were all together in Chicago for my cousin’s wedding and then hopped on a flight to Paris. We chose Paris because it’s easy to get to, and we’d all been before and love it. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite places from the trip, including the hotel where we stayed, a great coffee shop, and two delicious, casual lunch spots.

First, here’s a recipe for a delicious fall pasta made with rigatoni, a creamy butternut squash sauce, and crispy sage leaves. It’s exactly what I crave on a cozy night in. I hope you give it a try!

Also, my debut cookbook comes out March 3 and is available for preorder. Preorders are so helpful for first-time authors, so if you’re thinking of getting a copy, I’d be so grateful if you ordered early 🤍

What I Cooked Last Week! ↓

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Crispy Sage

The coziest fall pasta. Squash gets cooked with warm spices and blended with milk to create a creamy sauce. Topped with crispy sage leaves, it’s comforting and delicious!

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta With Crispy Sage

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You can download the PDF recipe above and watch the video here :)

My Favorite Spots in Paris from Our Family Trip

Here are some of the places we loved. I had a long list of spots I wanted to try, but since we were a big group, getting into restaurants was a little tricky. A few of the places we went to weren’t total hits, so I’m only sharing the ones that really stood out :). At the end, you’ll also find my wish list of spots that came highly recommended and that I’m hoping to try next time I’m in Paris, in case you have a trip planned and want to check them out too.

Where We Stayed

We loved our hotel, Experimental Marais, in the 3rd arrondissement. Since Doug knows a lot about hotels (his company is a hotel-booking app called Safara!), he was in charge of finding our lodging. He loves finding hidden gem hotels that are a bit more unique and boutique-y, with some personality, and the Experimental was exactly that. The rooms had great design and cool furnishings, and everything felt high quality with top-notch service.

Beautiful design at the hotel! They also welcomed us with a handwritten note and an incredible cookie 🤤

As a bonus, the group that owns the hotel started out in food and beverage, so the bar and restaurant were both fantastic. Plus, the location couldn’t have been better: right in the heart of the Marais, within walking distance of great shops, cafés, and bakeries.

Coffee and Matcha

There were two spots close to the hotel that we really loved: Laïzé and Source Matcha Bar.

As you probably know, I’m usually a matcha drinker, but whenever I’m in Europe or on vacation, I like to mix in some coffee. Laïzé had one of the best coffees I’ve ever had. It’s a Taiwanese coffee and tea spot where they make drinks from different bean varieties. I tried the Tokyo blend, which was rich, smooth, and slightly chocolatey. I usually go for a cappuccino, but this time I ordered a flat white for a little less foam. It was so delicious, and a favorite of Doug’s too.

In the early afternoons, we’d sometimes stop by Source Matcha Bar for a pick-me-up. We ordered our usual half-milk, half-water matcha, and thankfully the baristas understood and complied, lol.

Bakeries

Of course, we were excited for pastries, though we’re honestly so spoiled in Brooklyn with our local favorites: Bakeri (go right when they open) and Nick + Sons, both of which have incredible croissants. Most of the ones I had in Paris didn’t quite live up to those, but here are two spots that are worth visiting: